March-11-2015

>>Maharashtra Govt has started a helpline to address the social,physical and Phycological issues faced by adolescents and inaugurated by CM Devendra Fadnavis wife Amruta Fadnavis.

 Help line number:1800 233 2688

    

>>The US declard Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven offcials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute  since socialist president Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.

>> Nitish Kumar Govt won confidence vote in the Bihar Assembly with help of RJD,Congress,CPI and one Independent MLA.

>>Lok Sabha Passes Land Acquisition bill along with new amendements:

• ·       Lok Sabha has passed The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The bill was passed by voice vote along with incorporated 9 new amendments moved by Union government.The amendment bill replaces the ordinance promulgated in this regard and seeks to amend the RFCTLARR Act, 2013.

                Key provisions of Amendment Bill

• The Bill creates five special categories of land use. They are 1. Rural infrastructure, 2. Affordable housing, 3. Defence, 4. Industrial corridors, 5. Infrastructure projects including Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects where the Union government owns the land.
• Removes the Consent Clause (CC) of 80 per cent of land owners for private projects and that of 70 per cent of land owners for PPP projects in case of acquiring land for above five categories from parent Act.
• Removes of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) clause for 5 categories from parent Act which is done to identify those affected and from the restrictions on the acquisition of irrigated multi-cropped land.
• The provisions for compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement under 13 central Acts are in consonance with the LARR Act.

>>Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Seychelles:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Seychelles as part of three-nation tour for cementing strategic partnership with island courtiers of Seychelles, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
• Narendra Modi is first Prime Minister to visit Seychelles in 34 years. Previously, late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had visited the country in 1981.

 Key facts

• Both nations agreed to set up joint working group to promote ocean based economy i.e. on Blue Economy. In this regard, India committed to provide all help to Seychelles.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced free visa on arrival (VoA) and free visas for three months facility to the citizens of Seychelles.
• Four agreements and MoUs were signed between both the countries. They were signed in the fields of renewable energy, hydro graphic survey, electronics navigation and infrastructure development at the island of Seychelles.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated a Coastal Surveillance Radar system (CSRS). The surveillance system has set up in Seychelles with the help of India.
• India also announced to provide 2nd dossier aircraft to the island nation to enhance maritime security.

>> India’s literacy rate rose to 72.98% in 2011:

           

• During the session in the Parliment HRD minister Smriti Irani said, as per population census 2011, the number of illiterates have declined to 28.27 crore from 30.41 crore in 2011 in the country.
• Country’s literacy rate has risen to 72.98 per cent in 2011 compared to 64.84 per cent in 2001.
• ·The literacy rate in the country has risen after launching of flagship schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2001-02, enforcement of the Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 and Saakshar Bharat programme.

The Saakshar Bharat Scheme’s objective is to raise the literacy level to 80 per cent and reduce the gender gap by the end of 12th  Five Year plan i.e. by the end of 2017.

>> Parliament passes Motor Vehicles(Amendment) Bill,2015:

      .The Bill seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act,1988 and replace the ordinance promulgated in this regard.

Key provisions of Amendment Bill

• It brings e-carts and e-rickshaws under ambit of the parent Act, so they can ply on roads across the country.
• The Bill defines E-carts and e-rickshaws as special purpose battery powered vehicles with power up to 4000 watts and having 3 wheels. Bill mentions that these vehicles can be used for carrying goods or passengers.
• It also mentions that these vehicles should be manufactured, equipped and maintained in accordance with specifications as prescribed by Union government.
• The Bill exempts drivers of e-rickshaw and e-cart from the requirement of learner’s licence to drive.
• The Bill gives powers to Union government to make Rules on the specifications for e-carts and e-rickshaws, and the conditions and manner for issuing driving licenses.

>>Indian Railways signs MoU with LIC for investments in rail Infrastructure:

Indian Railways signed an MoU with LIC  to raise Rs 1.5 lakh crore for financing & developing the various pending railway  projects.

Details of the MoU

• LIC will provide a Financial Assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh crore to Indian Railways for developing infrastructure.
• From the Financial Year 2015-16 the financial assistance will be made available by LIC for over a period of 5 years as part of its commercial decision.
•  With the Financial Assistance from LIC, the cash-strapped Railways will be able to expedite in the execution of projects.

>>Union Govt Appointed 9 Executive Directors in Public Sector Banks:

    Their appointment was approved by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on recommendation of selection panel headed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan.

Following 9 Executive Directors (ED) of PSBs were appointed

·         K. Sahoo- ED of Allahabad Bank.

·         Pawan Kumar Bajaj- ED of Indian Overseas Bank.

·         Ravi Shankar Pandey- ED of Syndicate Bank.

·         Kishore Piraji Kharat- ED of Union Bank of India.

·         C.Lodha- ED of Central Bank of India.

·         Charan Singh- ED of UCO Bank

·         Venkata Rama Moorthy- ED of Bank of Baroda.

·         P. Marathe- ED of Bank of India.

·         Harideesh Kumar B- ED of Canara Bank.